324 THE WILDERNESS AND JUNGLE 



close a resemblance to the wilderness in other 

 continents that a brief glance at European 

 ideals of preservation may help us to arrive 

 at the best means of achieving the same object 

 elsewhere. 



Shooting rights on the Continent mostly go 

 with ownership, though in Central Europe 

 there is a system of joining small holdings, 

 each of two or three hundred acres, and put- 

 ting the sporting rights up to public auction. 

 The average close time lasts, as with us, six 

 months, but longer periods are prescribed in 

 the case of a few animals that it is particularly 

 desired to protect. In Switzerland there is, 

 as in America, some confusion, owing to the 

 clashing of the Federal law with the more 

 local enactments of the Cantons. The general 

 Federal close time lasts a little more than six 

 months, and the Cantons have power to close 

 entire areas for indefinite periods. Much of 

 this power has been wisely exerted for the 

 better protection of the chamois, and it is a 

 pity that similar enlightened efforts were not 

 in time to save the steinbock, or ibex, of the 

 Alps, which survives only in the preserves 

 of the King of Italy. 



In Spain, save in the royal preserves, the 

 destruction of wild game is unchecked, and 

 poaching is carried on openly. 



Turkey looks on wild animals with char- 



